Rockstar raised the bar with its Grand Theft Auto series and Red Dead Redemption, defining a new era of sprawling open-world adventures. With LA Noire, inspired by Raymond Chandler and LA Confidential, it has done it again. The title was the first game to be honoured as an official selection at the Tribeca film festival. It even spawned its own book of short stories – that never happened to Jet Set Willy.

London-born but based in New York, the co-founders of Rockstar Games (they had wanted to be in a band, hence the name) were the first global superstars of gaming. Unlike real rock stars, though, they tend to shy away from the media spotlight.

"There will be increasing talent convergence as games continue to become a more interesting creative medium that requires a greater number and variety of Hollywood talent," said Dan Houser. "We try very hard to avoid the debate as to whether games are art, as it tends to attract people with too much time on their hands."